Foraging behavior and identification of fungi associated with Rhinella marina of Central Luzon State University Ecosystem
Date
2019
Authors
Angeli T. Agustin
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Abstract
The study was focused on the determination of foraging behavior and identification of fungi associated with frogs in the ecosystem of CLSU. The collected frogs in the undisturbed study areas in CLSU were classified as Rhinella marina. The frogs were swabbed in the dorsal surface and appendages using a sterile cotton swab and this were transferred in a dilution bottle containing 10ml of sterile water. isolation of fungi was done by pour plate technique. isolated pure cultures of fungi were identified through cultural and morphological characterization. Cultural characterization was done by three-point inoculation technique. Morphological characterization was done by slide culture technique. Identified fungi associated with this frog were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus tereus, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus brasilienensis, Fusarium semitecrum and Rhizopus microsporus. Chytrid fungus was not found in R. marina collected in the ecosystem of CLSU.
On the other hand, foraging behavior was determined by dissecting the frog and analyzing its stomach content. The gut content analysis revealed that R. marina feeds on plant materials, pebbles and insects belonging to order Coleoptera and Hemiptera.